Cool MateWho is vs Who's
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Who is
High-frequency chunk
Who's
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Who is | Who's | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //huː ɪz//🇺🇸 //hu ɪz// | 🇬🇧 //huːz//🇺🇸 //huːz// |
| Meaning | A question asking about a person's identity. | A question asking who is or who has. |
| Example | Who is your favorite author? | Who's coming to the party tonight? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | Who is he?, Who is she?, Who is that? | Who's there?, Who's in charge?, Who's your teacher? |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'who is' with 'who's'., Using 'who is' without a subject after, Forgetting to use it in a question format. | Confused with 'whose', which shows possession., Used in formal contexts where 'who is' should be used instead. |
| Usage notes | Use 'who is' in questions to inquire about someone. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations. | Use 'Who's' in questions or informal contexts. In formal writing, use 'Who is' or 'Who has'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Who is vs Who's
What's the difference between Who is and Who's?
Who is: A question asking about a person's identity. Who's: A question asking who is or who has.
Can you show an example of each?
Who is: Who is your favorite author? Who's: Who's coming to the party tonight?
Can I use Who is and Who's interchangeably?
Not always. Who is and Who's are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.